HERE’S THE PITCH
PawSox deliver plan for new stadium
PAWTUCKET — The city of Pawtucket and the Pawtucket Red Sox on Wednesday announced that they have agreed to a proposal for a new $73 million ballpark on the Apex land downtown, with the PawSox committing $45 million for the construction costs. The said that the ballpark would be self-sufficient, requiring no new taxes.
The state’s $23 million portion would be paid for and exceeded by revenues generated by the ballpark, ballclub, and project, while Pawtucket would contribute up to $15 million, a large portion of which would be to secure the Apex parcel. In total, the ballpark and land would cost $83 million. PawSox President Charles Steinberg on Wednesday touted the deal as having “no burden to the ordinary taxpayer. There is no ask, there is no public subsidy.”
The stadium would be city-owned and the PawSox, as part of the deal, have proposed to commit to remain in Pawtucket for a 30-year extension through 2050. Additionally, the PawSox’ ownership group has committed to pay for any construction cost overruns.
Mayor Donald R. Grebien said that conversations are ongoing with the owners of the Apex building and adjacent land and he is confident that the issue would be resolved “sooner rather than later.”
The multi-million dollar proposal will next go before Gov. Gina M. Raimondo and the state legislature. If all goes well with state leaders, the plan is to have the ballpark ready to open in 2020.
PawSox Executive Vice President and General Manager Dan Rea said the PawSox commitment to the stadium’s construction costs represents about 61 percent, saying it is a “substantial investment” and the result of a productive dialogue between stakeholders. Rea added that to his knowledge, the $45 million is the largest private investment in Pawtucket history and the largest private contribution to a public Triple-A ballpark in recent memory.
Steinberg said that the proposal is about more than just a ballpark, as the proof is in further investment in downtown Pawtucket spurred by the stadium’s construction. He said, for example, that Paul Salem of Providence Equity Partners is expected to make a personal contribution to the development efforts.
“You’re seeing development dollars be committed to ensure that it develops,” Steinberg said, with Rea adding that several have expressed an interest and committed “real capital” and a “real desire” to this “robust opportunity” in downtown Pawtucket.
“We’re bullish on this,” Rea said. “We believe in the mayor.” He said that the PawSox are confident in a highly-visible ballpark that will be seen by thousands of vehicles traveling by via Interstate 95.
Grebien said that his administration has been working with the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation to ensure it is a “very fair agreement to the taxpayers” and that it would come at no additional cost to the state’s taxpayers.
“All of the ancillary development, all of the sales tax is going to show in the numbers. It’ll be self-sustaining and a revenue enhancer over 30 years,” Grebien said.
“It’s clearly about economic development. My grandfather and father took me (to McCoy Stadium) but at the end of the day, it was about what is the best economic development,” he said. The new stadium downtown “becomes a piece of the puzzle to the overall economic development. Now we get this piece of the puzzle and it’s my job to say this is right for Pawtucket and right for Rhode Island.”
“We understand the importance of this project to the viability of our city, the numbers are the numbers, this is an opportunity where this can have new revenue,” the mayor continued.
Steinberg said that “this massive private investment in this city would not happen if not for the leadership of Mayor Grebien and the relationships that he forges with his constituents and the businesses in his city. This would not have otherwise happened. This is a stunning victory for Pawtucket.”
Grebien envisions the potential for an “economic development driver” with a downtown stadium, saying that there is a commitment and investment from the PawSox in the local community. He also said that this could tie in well with the incoming commuter rail sta- tion, new breweries and businesses downtown, and the “excitement coming in” to Pawtucket.
“We’ve been trying to make this right and get it right for the taxpayers. We have the framework of an agreement that says it’s revenue positive, we’re excited about that,” he said. “It needs to be vetted. My job is to keep them here in Pawtucket and my second goal was to make sure it’s revenue positive or at least revenue neutral, and I think we’ve done better than that.”
Pawtucket’s Director of Administration Antonio J. Pires said that the focus now is on “development, development, development,” saying the sooner it passes through the state legislature and receives the blessing of the General Assembly, the sooner the city can start developing the properties around the ballpark.
THE FIVE PROPERTIES the city is looking at are Apex at 9.09 acres, the former Sawyer School at 1.31 acres, Apex Tire and Service Center at 0.73 acres, and two vacant lots accounting for 1.28 acres.
In total, the five lots account for 12.41 acres. The transaction will be conducted via the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency.
While the land around the ballpark is tight – the Apex land is 9.09 acres – and parking has been a concern among some fans and residents, Grebien said that an overview of the surrounding areas showed nearly 1,900 parking spaces within walking distance, with a few hundred on the site alone, plus parking lots at City Hall and the soonto-be renovated downtown parking garage on Main Street.
Grebien during a celebratory press conference on the grounds of Slater Mill on Wednesday afternoon recalled the cold February night two years ago when he received word that the PawSox would be leaving their longtime home with plans for a new stadium in Providence. He said that while most would have lost hope, Pawtucket fans stuck it out – not unlike how they stuck it out during the famous 33-inning game at McCoy Stadium in 1981.
Grebien later said he has “all the confidence” that the proposal has been done right and that it will pass through the General Assembly, saying “the time is now, we can’t let it slip away.”
Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee said that the project would be beneficial to all 39 cities and towns in Rhode Island, as he said each community has its share of PawSox fans who are going to come to a new stadium downtown.
McKee also said that as an advocate for the state’s small business community, he envisions a “residual effect” from a new ballpark that would make for a big difference among the city’s small business community.
Raimondo in a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon said: “I’ve always believed the PawSox belong in Pawtucket, and my highest priority regarding any state involvement in a ballpark is to protect Rhode Island’s taxpayers. The ballpark proposal that the City of Pawtucket and the team has put forward appears to pay for itself, and I credit Mayor Grebien and the PawSox for listening to Rhode Islanders and coming up with a radically different proposal than two years ago. I believe it merits a full public vetting as part of the legislative process.”
Dan Sullivan, co-chair of The Pawtucket Foundation, said that he remembered growing up in the 1960s and having trouble walking through downtown Pawtucket because of all the businesses and customers who would shop at the local establishments. He said “that will all come back” with a new ballpark and commuter rail station.
“This is a game-changer,” Sullivan said.
Mike Sabitoni, president of the Rhode Island Building Trades, said that he fully supports the endeavor and gave the city and team officials credit for coming up with a “spectacular plan” that he said would revitalize Pawtucket and the Blackstone Valley corridor. He also called on Raimondo, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio to “make this a reality.”
“Let’s build this ballpark and turn this city and the Blackstone Valley around!” Sabitoni said.
John Gregory, president of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, said that the new stadium would not only be beneficial for Pawtucket but for the entire region, as he envisioned people driving into Rhode Island via Interstate 95, crossing the bridge near the stadium, and coming to a PawSox game at a downtown stadium.
Gregory also said that while many memories were created at McCoy Stadium, countless new memories among multiple generations will be made at a brand-new ballpark.
Mike Tamburro, the PawSox’ vice chairman, said that he’s seen downtown Pawtucket flourish and be abandoned in his years in the city but he never thought he’d see the day where an organization makes a $45 million commitment to a ballpark. He also said the stadium is in good hands with some of the individuals who helped to create Baltimore’s Camden Yards and San Diego’s Petco Park.
PawSox Chairman Larry Lucchino looked around the gathered crowd at Slater Mill and said that it reminded him of the previous three rallies in which the Boston Red Sox brought the World Series trophy to Rhode Island. However, what they were presenting on Wednesday was not a trophy, but rather a ballpark that would last for generations.
He also said that the ownership group has learned its lesson from the errors of the failed effort to relocate the team to Providence, saying that what they were proposing now is much different than what was presented two years ago. He also said “Pawtucket is our home, the ballpark at Slater Mill is our residence.”
Follow Jonathan Bissonnette on Twitter @J_Bissonnette